ROCKFORD - Phil Nicolosi has childhood memories of his father officiating marriages in the living room and detectives coming to his family's Rockford home to have warrants signed.

The elder Nicolosi, Philip A., who died in 2001 at age 77, was one of the county's last justices of the peace, serving as a magistrate and justice of the peace from 1948 to 1964. His son Philip J. Nicolosi learned Friday that he too would have a role behind the bench.

"My dad always talked about what a wonderful service it was to be on the bench and help people decide cases," Nicolosi said. "It's something I've always thought about."

The Administrative Office of Illinois Courts announced Friday that 17th Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Nicolosi as an associate judge. He fills one of two associate judgeships left open by retirement. Judge Steven Vecchio retired Dec. 5 after 18 years on the bench. At year's end, Judge Gary Pumilia will close out more than 13 years on the bench.

Nicolosi, 54, has practiced law for 28 years in both civil and criminal courts and as both a prosecutor and defense attorney. He was Winnebago County State's Attorney from 2007-2008 after being appointed to the job by the Winnebago County Board to replace Paul Logli.

Nicolosi cares about the problems of the people who will appear before him in court, said Dave Kurlinkus, deputy state's attorney and chief of staff. Kurlinkus worked with Nicolosi before opening his own practice and ultimately joining State's Attorney Joe Bruscato's team.

"He's a very caring person," Kurlinkus said. "He's an extremely fair man. You couldn't ask for any better quality in a judge."

Associate judges commonly preside over traffic, DUI, misdemeanor, small claims and family law cases. Nicolosi has not been assigned to a particular court or been given a start date yet.

"He has the perfect demeanor to serve as judge," said Roxanne Sosnowski, an attorney with Barrick, Switzer, Long, Balsey & Van Evera. "With his many years of experience in the courtroom, working as a litigator and a prosecutor I think he'll be an excellent addition to the bench."